Foxwoods likes odds in Milford

Foxwoods officials say they don't see their Milford application for a resort casino as a gamble, but rather as a calculated risk that will work out in their favor.

By Lindsay Corcoran/Daily News staff

MetroWest Daily News, Framingham, MA

By Lindsay Corcoran/Daily News staff

Posted Jun. 18, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Jun 18, 2013 at 6:04 PM

By Lindsay Corcoran/Daily News staff

Posted Jun. 18, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Jun 18, 2013 at 6:04 PM

MILFORD

» Social News

Foxwoods officials say they don't see their Milford application for a resort casino as a gamble, but rather as a calculated risk that will work out in their favor.

In a meeting with the Daily News editorial board, Foxwoods CEO and President Scott Butera and developer David Nunes said they believe their project will win the Massachusetts Gaming Commission license for Eastern Massachusetts.

The proposed $1 billion, 660,000-square-foot resort casino at the intersection of Interstate 495 and Rte. 16 in Milford is competing against two other projects for one of the state’s three casino licenses: in Everett and Suffolk Downs in East Boston.

“We feel strongly that we’re the best alternative,” Butera said. “We have a good shot of winning this thing.”

Butera and Nunes said the Milford proposal’s suburban location and unique design will set it apart.

“We like being on a suburban parcel,” Butera said. “The inner city projects will have more problems, in terms of what it will take to develop in a non-invasive way.”

Nunes said the location near the intersection of I-495 and the Mass. Pike makes it ideal for customers coming from Boston, Worcester or from the north.

“We can repatriate more dollars at this location than at any other location in the state, more than those in the semi-urban areas,” said Nunes, noting that idea satisfies what the state legislature was hoping to do in terms of allowing casinos.

Butera said he believes the design, in particular, will satisfy the commission’s criteria for awarding the license.

“I think the whole design is the ‘wow’ factor,” Butera said. “This is elegant and beautiful and something that has all kinds of natural beauty.”

The design for the Foxwoods casino embraces New England aesthetics and utilizes local resources, like pink granite.

Butera said he also likes the proposal’s chance of winning in a referendum vote in Milford, which will be held in late October if Selectmen ratify a Host Community Agreement with developers.

“We have solutions that will meet the needs of the project and go beyond that,” said Butera in terms of the town’s concerns over impacts to traffic, water and the schools.

Butera also said Foxwoods is prepared to offer the town $20 million a year on top of impact fees, money for police and fire departments and money for schools and parks. All of these mitigation efforts still need to be negotiated with town officials in a Host Community Agreement.

Contact Lindsay Corcoran at 508-634-7582 or lcorcoran@wickedlocal.com. Follow her on Twitter @LacorcMDN.